Art and science has always shared a special and a symbiotic relationship. A scientist, researcher, inventor, doctor, or mathematician all use their creativity in their fields of work. A painter or a sculptor uses science and anatomy to fuel their artistic work. In another life, Bill Gates may have become an incredible artist, Michelangelo an incredible surgeon, and DaVinci a world known inventor–which he was as a matter of fact.
It is this combination that is exemplified at the Museum of Science and Art at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. Surrounded by the charming streets, beautiful hotels, and bars and bistros, the campus museum offers a lot, not only to those visiting from out of town, but to the people of the city, and to the world of the arts and sciences. The exhibitions and the permanent collection at the museum include the work of the alumni and the professors, as well as a vast array of memorabilia collected throughout the years. One will find everything from robots, displace of design and architecture, holography, oceanic artifacts and engineering equipment. There is also a comprehensive record, or timeline, presented which outlines the innovations in technology that have taken place during the last two centuries.
This museum is free to the public each 3rd Sunday of the month, and it is a great opportunity to learn about the ways in which we got to where we are today as a society. There mission is to engage the world. They want to expose people to the wonders of the technological age and to the people who were and are still making those wonders into realities. Their exhibitions high light and focus on the expansion of this endeavour not only through the public’s eyes, but within the scientific community, inspiring not only the people of the world, but each other as well. It is a beautiful place to discover, one of the finest of the city, one of the finest of the world.
It is no secret that many businesses on a global level are struggling right now. As disheartening as that is for the local populations to see, it is even more discouraging for their employees. With cut benefits, pending layoffs, and general uncertainty the last thing on many peoples mind is advancement. Those who have jobs are grateful and those who don’t are open to just about anything. However, now is not the time to back down from your goal . Even in difficult times there are things you can do help you one-day advance.There is a common saying that it is who you know more than what you know that matters. While I would argue that a good education and lots of experience are important, having good connections could make all of the difference. Take the time to get to know people and supervisors in departments outside of your own. Interact with them as much as possible so that they are aware of your knowledge and skills. They could be a deciding factor when it comes to a new position or a raise. Know the difference between a risk and a gamble and, when the time comes, don’t be afraid to take that risk. Look closely at each situation and don’t be afraid to take on new challenges, even if they are a little out of your comfort zone. Life is a constant learning process. While we should never stop learning from our experiences, we should also never stop the formal learning process either. Take advantage of any corporate training or leadership training seminars that your company may offer. This will show those in authority that you have initiative and that you want to improve. These may be stressful times without much opportunity for advancement, but even if you are not climbing that ladder right now there are many things that you can do to hold on.
Sometimes a trip to New York City won’t feel complete without exploring the countryside surrounding this great metropolis. You can find a car here, and then you’ll be ready to go just about anywhere on your schedule, not tied down to a bus or train’s time table. Personally, I’ve always enjoyed a car trip that will take me by roadside attractions, probably stemming from trips as a child through the Northwest and Southwest, where the attractions range from sand statues to The Thing, presumably a ten thousand year old mummy. Within driving range of New York City, up in Cooperstown, New York, you’ll find one of the great hoaxes of the 19th Century: The Cardiff Giant.
A cigar manufacturer named George Hull thought up the Cardiff Giant after arguing with a minister. He wondered if ministers and others would believe that giants were real, based on a Biblical quote in Genesis 6:4 that mentions there were giants on Earth, if he produced the petrified remains of one. He carved a stone statue secretly. It was over ten feet tall. He washed it in acid and pounded it with needles to make it seem old, then buried it on a farm in Cardiff, New York. The entire project cost him $2,600 to do, and this was in 1868 dollars, but he figured he’d charge money for people to see it, and that he’d actually make a profit.
When the statue was “found,” it was instantly proclaimed a fraud, but as Hull figured, fundamentalists thought it was real and declared it real as the statue made the rounds of cities. Hull charged fifty cents to see it, and made $30,000 on the deal. The New York Historical Association eventually bought it for another $30,000 and it’s on display in Cooperstown, where you’ll still need to pay an admission fee to see it. The drive in the New York countryside, there and back, should be a pleasant contrast to the cit. It can be found at the Farmer’s Museum, a mile north of Cooperstown on Highway 80. The museum is open daily from ten to five in the summer and from Tuesdays through Saturdays from ten to four in the off-season. It’s closed in November and December, and you might want to call ahead to be certain: 607-547-1400.
I will admit, I always liked the idea of throwing darts at a map and making travel plans based on that, but it doesn’t generally seem to work as well in real life as it does in movies and TV shows. Usually I just end up hitting ocean. When I do hit a land mass it’s not usually a place I’d like to go. I’m not doing that this time. This time I have decided I am going to make solid travel plans and I am going to follow in the footsteps of President Obama. It will just be a tour around the United States, but it will be a great summer vacation. I got the idea from an article I read about three months ago about a couple who were following in his footsteps around D.C hoping to catch a glimpse of him. I don’t want to do that, but I figure when I have grand kids this will be the kind of vacation story I will be able to tell them.
I’m not the only one who is thinking this though. Take a us map and choose any city he visited on his way to Presidency. There are Presidential travel packages being set up all over the country. I would say it was a new fad, but the President has always been America’s biggest celebrity and we love to go where celebrities have gone and see what they have seen. It is a little like living vicariously through them, but we get to see it with our own eyes and be there in real time all on our own. Myself and millions like me hope this is going to be the experience we are each looking for.
To give a good idea of some of the most popular places to travel to when following any President, try first the town they were born in, then follow them around their schooling career. This is usually where most people start in these things and can give immense insight into some of the most intimate details of what shaped the President on his way to becoming the man he is today. Taking this advise and a knowledge of a little bit of history, you can actually get into the head of just about anyone on the world globe including people like Gandhi and Mother Teressa.
Once you’ve seen Colonial Williamsburg, taken the ghost tour, and seen the giant Presidential Heads at Presidents Park, perhaps it’s time to check out Jamestown Settlement, a fascinating living museum. Entering Jamestown Settlement is a bit like a trip back to the 1600s, where you’ll find costumed interpreters providing in character info about how the Powhatan people lived. You may explore a long house, or play Indian games, see how food was prepared, even tan a deer hide.
There’s three ships here, too, that are replicas of those sailed by Captain Christopher Newport. There’s interpreters onboard here as well, playing the crew, and they’ll answer questions about what it was like onboard. In an age, when we can cross the ocean in a matter of hours, weeks aboard these wooden vessels must have been a trying experience, and these crew will make that experience come alive for you. Not only are you able to look through the ships, but you can lie down in the beds, and see how comfortable or uncomfortable the voyage really was…. In addition to showing you life with the Powhatan and the sea voyage over, this experience will show you, too, the first few years of life in the Jamestown Settlement.
There’s also an excellent museum on site. On the outside, the building for the exhibits is fairly new, perhaps in contrast to the world outside; inside, though, you’ll find a number of exhibits that thoroughly explore the time period. You can literally spend hours in the museum as you explore the models and films and exhibits that show how Jamestown was founded and how it progressed as a colony. It’s a great place to spend a day with your family. For a great place to stay in the area, all you need to do is take a look here.